Bowling-ball.



No.746,576. A v PATENTED mo. 8, M03, J. T. RICE.

BOWLING BALL.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 26, 19 02.

no MODEL.

1792125555:- Jzzzrsmar mw I Her 746,5?6.

s n sna JAMES TJ'RIGE, on CLEVELAND, OHIO.

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SPEGIFICATIONforming part of Letters Patent No. 746,576, dated December 8, 190 3..

Application filed 26, 1992.

To all whom itmwy concern):

Be it known that 1, JAMES T. RIGE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Ouyahoga and State of Ohio,

My invention relates to balls adaptedto be nsed for playing tenpins or for the game of bowling, and more especially to such balls when the same have been made or formed of hard wood, such as lignum-vitae andprovided with holes adapted to receive'the finger and thumb of the bowler or player.

The object of my invention is to provide a in a balancing condition'by adjustment.

A further object of myinvention is to provide a ball which may be reducedin diameter after having become worn and subsequently balanced. y

My invention consists in details of construction and combination of parts for carrying out or retaining the above objects, all of which willbe hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

in the drawing is illustrated across-sectional view of a bowling-ball constructed according to my invention, showing the sockets extending beyond the center and illustrating the adj nstable weights and auxiliary weights.

A represents a ball which is formed of hard wood and provided with the usual fingerholcs B 0, one for the thumib and the other for a finger, whereby thehall is grasped, held, and propelled.

The object in extending the finger-holes beyond the center is to, as far as possible, bal-' ance the ball, leaving but little, if any, weight to make up in the balancing.

The balancing of the ball I attain by the 'useof a weight preferably inserted at the lower ends of the finger-holes B 0. These weights 1) D are preferably formed in divided form and as a matter of preference 1 construct them in the form of casings, which are filled with shot or like divided weights, such as illustrated in Figure 1. These casings are secured in the lower part of the finger-holes in any suitable manner, but preferably by ball which is balanced and may be retained- Serial No. 104,823. (No modeld means of screw-thread connections, as suggested. I may also, if desired and found necessary, pack the divided weights tightly within their several casings with suitable ma-- terial to prevent them from rattling or moving. The casings or weights D D may be made adjustable toward and from the center of the ball for the purpose of securing a proper lPatented December 8, 1903.

balance of: the ball. The bushings E'E' extend to the-outer periphery of the ball and are formed flush'with said'periphery.

G G represent oneor more auxiliary pockets, which may be formed near the outer periphery of the ball and may beprovided with additional weights where additional halancing is required, or they may constitute the entire balancing-weight formed of divided parts,'such as shot or like small pieces.

I am aware that it has been endeavored to balance a ball by means of a bushing, but I have found thesame to be impracticable, inasmuch as owing to the different density of the material of which the balls are made and also owing to the difierent density of the matarial at diderent parts of the same ball it is impracticable to form a bushing which will perfectly balance the ball, and hence I have overcome this objection by providing adjustable weights, as above set forth.

In thedrawing l have shown the finger holes or sockets B 0 extending beyond the center of theballs, the one, B, being almost to which I deem best adapted to perform the function required; but I do not wish to be limited to these details of construction or to the assemblage of the'p'arts,.inasmuch as it is obvious that the same may be modified or altered and'still embodymy invention.

-What I claim is 1. A bowling-ball comprising finger holes or sockets, adjustable divided weights, located within said finger holes or sockets, and at or near the lower portion thereof, in combination with auxiliary sockets extending from the side walls of said finger-holes and adapted to receive weights, for the purpose set forth.

g 2. In a bowling-ball, the combination with the finger-sockets thereof, of hollow exter-' 7 said ball, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. In combination with a bowling ball formed with holes extending inward beyond the center of the ball, hollow bushings mounted in'the outer ends of the said holes, weights adjustably mounted in the said holes at a point in the rear of the said bushings, and

means for additional weights' in the ball at points adjacent the said bushings.

4. A bowling-ball of the type set forth provided with finger holes or sockets and weights .adjnstably mounted in the ball at a point below the finger-holes.

' Signed at Cleveland, in the county of Guyahoga and State of Ohio, this 28th day 01: Feb- 

